I want to become a Formula 1 driver.
How do I go about doing this?
Yes, I am serious.
I realize that I'm probably several years to late in life (22 now), but I really want to give it a try.

well uh, cant help to chuckle a little bit, but, it takes lots, I mean lots of money along with some good driving talent to pull something off like that. Things don't happen overnight. I don't know if you have any racing history under your belt or not, but that always helps.

Unfortunately, you are about 10 years too late... Unless you are a natural talent, someone who has the ability to become a world champion in his debut year. Then still, it'll take at least 6 years or so of racing all different kinds of classes before you'll even have a slight chance of making it to F1.

Most (if not all) F1 drivers started out in karts at a very young age. Karts - and I mean true racing karts that go well over 100mph - are considered the best learning school. Nothing comes close to the sensation of speed in F1 as karts do. You are a few inches above the ground and if you have the nerve to go over 100mph in such a small vehicle then you might have what it takes to become a Formula 1 driver. If you are really, really good, you can become world-champion karts in a year or two. Then you go to the next step. Something like Formula Ford. You'll need to become the champion in your first year. Then perhaps move to Japan and race in the Japanese F1. Next, Formula 3000 and the year after that test-driver in Formula 1.

You'll need lots and lots of money. $10 million dollars or so from sponsors or private money. This will get you in a team like Minardi. No money, no chance.

Take a look at dutch driver Jos Verstappen. He was (and still is) often compared in talent with Michael Shumacher (in fact, Michael Shumacher himself has said several times that Jos is probably one of the best drivers on the grid). He has shown some amazing things in F1 as well as in his pre-F1 years. One of his more recent achievements is running in 2nd place in a car that is just about the worst car on the grid. He has by far the most overtakings on his name this season. Yet, like I mentioned, he is driving for the second worst team in F1. Why? Because dutch companies aren't interested in sponsoring F1. He has no money to bring to a team and the only reason he is driving for a F1 team is because of his talent. Put him in a car like the Ferrari or the McLaren, and most people in F1 are convinced he can win the championship. But he has no sponsors. So he drives for Arrows. He is the only driver in F1 that doesn't have huge sponsors.

Kart racing! Damn, too bad I stopped that to get a job! It was great.

this is off topic but everyone at work calls my formula......."Formula 1"..

and I just agree and wish it really ran like an F1 car

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go-carts, formula ford, then F-3 if you win they will come to you. or win indy 500.
try the GPL sim to see if you have any real talent
marry a team owners kid or a very rich girl.

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Question wonder and be wierd

I always thought those Austailian tourning car races would be cool to get into... (Off topic, I know.)

You have two options:

1) Kill yourself, then hope you are reincarnated as the son of a billionaire European or South American businessman.

2) Buy a shifter kart, race hard, have fun. If it turns out you have talent and win a lot, buy a Formula Ford, race hard, and hope you continue winning and that someone with a Toyota Atlantic team notices you. Enter Toyota Atlantics, repeat. Enter CART, repeat.

Rots of ruck!

[This message has been edited by ChadMan (edited 10-01-2001).]

quote Originally posted by btoth: I always thought those Austailian tourning car races would be cool to get into... (Off topic, I know.)

Yep. They be fun Have driven a touring car. Not to the speeds the pros take them too though because I was kinda doing it on a backstreet in an industrial area, not a track. Ah the fun of working on race cars as I used to do.

Bathurst 1000 is on this weekend. The countries best and longest touring car race of the season.

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My Fiero | Fiero Accessories

Karts If you win a lot, they will eventually come to you.

Alternatively, just stick with the carts, they're pretty intense especially if you're racing 250ccs.... oh man....

F1 is a very *phyiscally* demanding sport, just imagine driving with 600lbs of lead (or feathers) sitting on you? that's what 4Gs feels like in a turn.... or on the brakes...

Heh, to be perfectly honest, I'd REALLY love to take a crack at F1 one day too. Just give me a car man, I'll make it go.

(hey, a concidence we're both building similar fieros? I think not

Best!
Ben.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

Yep, Cliff's right (as usual)! Except he forgot to say why Verstapen has passed more cars than anyone else on the circuit this year... he doesnt qualify very well, and thusly the team runs really light fuel loads come race time.

to simplify the formula for a F1 career:
Money*(Kart+someone to find you)=Minardi (Sauber, Arrows or Prost can be substituted)

Money*amazing driving for a back marker=Jordon (Benneton, BAR, or Jaguar)

world championship= ride in a Ferrari or Mclaren or Williams (which ever is better at the moment)
\
Best of luck!

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hoop
Red 86 GT 5 speed
Black 86 SE Automatic

quote Originally posted by bHooper: Except he forgot to say why Verstapen has passed more cars than anyone else on the circuit this year... he doesnt qualify very well, and thusly the team runs really light fuel loads come race time.

Not entirely true, but I've heard this argument very often now, so let me try to explain where this comes from.

Arrow's engine, the Asiatech, is a pretty large engine with about 70hp less than most other engines on the grid. The only way they were able to fit this engine in their car, was to make the fuel-tank smaller. Their fuel-tank is about 30L smaller than others which makes it impossile for Arrows to race with a one-pitstop strategy. On a lot of circuits, this isn't really a problem because the total race-distance makes it necessary for most teams to run on a two-stop strategy.

But some circuits are small and most teams will only make one pit-stop while Arrows still have to make two.

Although the Arrows run with less fuel, they still have an engine that's heavier than most other's, and it still lacks 70hp. Even when the Arrows runs with extremely low fuel, it's still much slower than all other cars (except perhaps the Minardi).

So no matter how you slice it, any overtaking with the Arrows can be attributed completely to the driver.

Verstappen is the best starter on the grid. In his first lap, he often overtakes 5-10 cars because in that first lap, most cars are unable to use the car's full power (cold tires, cold engine, etc).

Verstappen is also one of the hardest drivers to overtake. He brakes extremely late for corners and corners is where most overtakings are taking place.

Michael Shumacher once had to start from the back of the grid (during a race in the rain), and he was able to cut through the field like a hot knife through butter - until he was behind Verstappen. At the end, Shumacher won the race and in the press-conference he complimented Verstappen by saying something like: "he (Verstappen) was probably the fastest man on the grid at that point. I couldn't overtake him - I mean, he was flying!". Don't forget, we are talking about the fastest car (Ferrari) vs the slowest car (Arrows).

I really like Verstappen as a driver. Not only because he's dutch, but because he's truly one of the best drivers I've seen.

Win Powerball when it is up in the mid millions and you may have a small chance

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Josh

if anything, we have figured out who Cliff's favorite driver is (and team)

as for myself, i will hold on to the fantasy that one day Minardi's "5 year plan" will actually happen... i mean afterall, the Bengals one 2 out of 3 games, who's to say that Minardi won't eventually get that elusive first championship point that they have been seeking for 17 years!

btw, cliff, you are right. i forgot about the larger engine=smaller fuel tank bit.

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hoop
Red 86 GT 5 speed
Black 86 SE Automatic

I've had flights in an S3 Viking. I already know what 4 g's feels like. Imaging losing 2,000 feet of altitude every second, then pulling out.

I am serious.

Where can I get into kart racing? Where can I learn more?
Anything that is within my power, I will do.

EEek, pulling out of a Mach ~1.5 dive?! <wets pants>

Kart racing depends hugely on where you are, just start asking around at auto parts stores and the like. Got a racetrack (any kind) nearby? ask there, they'll know.

Get yourself a shifter kart (they run about what a Fiero costs, lol. less if used, check ebay) to run in that class, and GO!

quote Originally posted by Will: I've had flights in an S3 Viking. I already know what 4 g's feels like. Imaging losing 2,000 feet of altitude every second, then pulling out. I am serious. Where can I get into kart racing? Where can I learn more? Anything that is within my power, I will do.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

did you guys forget, verstappen and schumacher were teammates at benetton in 94 when lehto got injured before the season started. who won the title?

but that's besides the point. if you have about 8grand in the bank, you can drive an f1 car. there is a company in canada that does it- they have some older cars that they rent out. i believe they have Hill's 97 arrows, wurz'z 98 benetton, a 93 lotus (whether it's herbert's or zanardi's i dont' know.) and others... seems like that's your best bet.

as far as racing in the world championship, forget it. i'm 22 and i just have a formula dodge license. aint no way i'm ever gonna race in f1. atlantics maybe...

quote Originally posted by artherd: EEek, pulling out of a Mach ~1.5 dive?! <wets pants> Kart racing depends hugely on where you are, just start asking around at auto parts stores and the like. Got a racetrack (any kind) nearby? ask there, they'll know. Get yourself a shifter kart (they run about what a Fiero costs, lol. less if used, check ebay) to run in that class, and GO!

Umm... Maybe I exaggerated a little

More like 500-1000 fps dive.

Kart racing, here I come.

quote Originally posted by Will: Kart racing, here I come.

Good luck man!!! If you ever make it, I'll be there in the grandstands cheering for you and telling everybody "THAT'S THE COOL GUY I SORT OF KNOW FROM THE FIERO FOURM!!!!"

Or hey, if you ever need a backup driver... or pit crew ***** guy... ;0)

(If we both get really lucky, someday we'll line up on the grid for a Standing Start together

Best!
Ben.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red
88 Formula, Silver
87 Coupe, Metalic Red
"Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
-Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

Will: But just remember, when I started it last year, it is a lot harder than it looks (not harder than it looks, but some people are great at it). You have to keep practicing.. I didn't, I had to get a job.